Chris, Oliver, Ruth, Van, and I want to wish you a happy new year! We are very thankful for your friendship and the great memories we share with each one of you! When I think of the many cousins, aunts, old friends, and neighbors, etc. that I'll send this link to, I'm overwhelmed with happy feelings. We love you very much, hope your Christmas was joyful, and wish you a healthy and happy new year!
Sorry this came a little late, I wanted to wait until some pictures were taken over the break.
Now then, here's a review of our 2016! We are a little family of 5, but we are adding to our household in pets. More chickens, a tortoise, and on Christmas morning Santa left Poppy under our tree! Poppy is a female mini goldendoodle puppy that really completes the whole scene. In case you're wondering what's in store for me in 2017, it's potty training both the pup and Van!.. Lucky me!
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| Disneyland |
Other highlights for our family this year were vacations to Southern California and Las Vegas with the Potter cousins, and building a 4th of July parade float to ride on; and camping to Payson Lakes and Christmas break with the Alldredge side. We always try to get in some hikes and lake days. Although I swear every year that I won't, I can't help but throw each kid a pretty memorable birthday party. Van's even had pony rides thanks to a very wonderful neighbor! With house and yard work, practices, homework, and church callings, we feel very full. What a relief Christmas was to have no school and work for a while, and celebrate the birth of our Redeemer! We're looking forward to seeing each of our children grow and progress this upcoming year, and we're excited to see what else 2017 will bring us!
I hope you'll read on to catch up on our kids. I'm pretty wordy and I can't seem to
not brag about them - you've been warned! Much love, Kalli
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| Zion National Park - we're locals |
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| Payson Lakes |
Oliver (6-1/2) is into music, gymnastics, wrestling, and Pokemon! He did coach-pitch baseball last spring and soccer in the fall; mutton-busted at Strawberry Days; and was Pikachu for Halloween. He's not the greatest athlete, but makes up for it with a great attitude! Oli is continuing Chinese immersion as a 1st grader. He took 2nd place at the school literacy fair for his division. He loves to go to the Tuacahn Amphitheater for Broadway shows and we took him and Ruth to see Peter Pan and Tarzan this year. One of my favorite memories of Oli this year was watching him get $20 from my parents on a dare - he jumped into a freezing waterfall on our annual camping trip to Payson Lakes. I hope everyone judges me as a mother from meeting Oliver - he's the best kid ever! Good manners, confident, friendly, easygoing, and just a sweet, little guy. Oliver's favorite part of Christmas was spending time in the snow, specifically tubing down the hill at Soldier Hollow Olympic Park.
Ruth (4-1/2) is a ballerina and gymnast. Ruth did soccer this spring, mutton bustin' at the rodeo with her brother, and was Rapunzel for Halloween. She's usually in trouble for talking too much, which I can relate to. Ruth is afraid to swim so she worked really hard, doing 2 or 3 lessons a day for 2 weeks at the beginning of summer to become a more confident swimmer. She is fearless at theme parks though! Ruth attends Montessori pre-k and does some school work online each day. She and I are best of friends and I really love the afternoons when the boys are gone and we get to have "girl time!" Ruth talks to us daily about her plans to be a doctor for animals or babies, and an artist, and have 100 children...all girls. Her favorite part of Christmas (I'm not making this up) was giving out her hand-crafted gifts, especially to her Sunbeam teacher. She beaded bracelets, decorated a pine cone, and painted a picture as gifts.
Van is 2...very 2! I don't wanna call him terrible, but he's definitely a 2 year old! Everyone wants to know what is going on with his hair. Well, it's affectionately called the Van-Bun. It started with me not wanting to cut off his summer blonde, then it was getting in his face, then it got reactions, and then he started to love it! We think it's funny and it worked great for his Samurai Halloween costume. Van had a couple hand injuries this year: he grabbed my curling iron and burnt his hand; later in the summer he picked up a cinder block and dropped it on his thumb, lost his thumbnail! (So now you can judge me as a mother for not paying very good attention to the toddler!) Van's got trains to play with, people he talks to at the schools and stores, pets to take care of, marbles to run, and books to read - you know, the important stuff! He caught his first fish this year. He loves the word, "No!" his blankie, and likes to sing along to his lullaby, "Sweet Baby James." Van's favorite part of Christmas had to be the inflatable decorations and lights!
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| I love how proud he is of his little yellow chick in this picture! He killed one about 10 minutes before this picture was taken, which is why he's not allowed to hold this chick. |
This upcoming March will be our 10 year anniversary, so for most of this past year we caught ourselves remembering our 1st date 10 years ago, and when we did certain things 10 years ago... It's really nice to know that I've spent a decade with this guy, and I'm still lucky enough to have him! I went along on a business trip to New York with Chris in June; and we went to Mexico in November. Both trips were so fun. We ran a half-marathon together. We both have church callings that we love and keep us involved with our community. Chris continues to buy and sell real estate here in St. George. He runs or bikes nearly everyday. And he finally bought himself a jacuzzi - the kids love it! He is looking forward to his annual Guy's Trip to a car auction in just a few weeks. Chris's favorite part of Christmas was hiking to an icy Bridal Veil Falls with Oliver during the break.
I don't know what to say about myself... I loved my annual Girl's Trip with old friends to Park City. I like to plant and design flowers, get a Coke everyday, and run my kids to practices and lessons - and see them perform. I loved Fall Break when Chris went to a car show in Vegas and I packed the kids up and did a PG trip with all my favorite stops: Lagoon, canyon drives and hikes, fishing, certain restaurants and seeing old faces. This new dog, Poppy, seems to be my shadow is at my side all day. It's nice to have someone listen to me! My favorite part of Christmas this year was riding the Polar Express train at a new city park. Everything about that night was magical!
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| Central Park |
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| Cabo San Lucas - getting sombreros home on the plane |
Happy New Year from the Potters!
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| ...and Princess Poppy Potter too! |
Chris, Oliver, Ruth, Van, and I want to wish you a happy new year! We are very thankful for your friendship and the great memories we share with each one of you! When I think of the many cousins, aunts, old friends, and neighbors, etc. that I'll send this link to, I'm overwhelmed with happy feelings. We love you very much, hope your Christmas was joyful, and wish you a healthy and happy new year!
Ruth (4-1/2) is a ballerina and gymnast. Ruth did soccer this spring, mutton bustin' at the rodeo with her brother, and was Rapunzel for Halloween. She's usually in trouble for talking too much, which I can relate to. Ruth is afraid to swim so she worked really hard, doing 2 or 3 lessons a day for 2 weeks at the beginning of summer to become a more confident swimmer. She is fearless at theme parks though! Ruth attends Montessori pre-k and does some school work online each day. She and I are best of friends and I really love the afternoons when the boys are gone and we get to have "girl time!" Ruth talks to us daily about her plans to be a doctor for animals or babies, and an artist, and have 100 children...all girls. Her favorite part of Christmas (I'm not making this up) was giving out her hand-crafted gifts, especially to her Sunbeam teacher. She beaded bracelets, decorated a pine cone, and painted a picture as gifts. 
Van is 2...very 2! I don't wanna call him terrible, but he's definitely a 2 year old! Everyone wants to know what is going on with his hair. Well, it's affectionately called the Van-Bun. It started with me not wanting to cut off his summer blonde, then it was getting in his face, then it got reactions, and then he started to love it! We think it's funny and it worked great for his Samurai Halloween costume. Van had a couple hand injuries this year: he grabbed my curling iron and burnt his hand; later in the summer he picked up a cinder block and dropped it on his thumb, lost his thumbnail! (So now you can judge me as a mother for not paying very good attention to the toddler!) Van's got trains to play with, people he talks to at the schools and stores, pets to take care of, marbles to run, and books to read - you know, the important stuff! He caught his first fish this year. He loves the word, "No!" his blankie, and likes to sing along to his lullaby, "Sweet Baby James." Van's favorite part of Christmas had to be the inflatable decorations and lights! 
This upcoming March will be our 10 year anniversary, so for most of this past year we caught ourselves remembering our 1st date 10 years ago, and when we did certain things 10 years ago... It's really nice to know that I've spent a decade with this guy, and I'm still lucky enough to have him! I went along on a business trip to New York with Chris in June; and we went to Mexico in November. Both trips were so fun. We ran a half-marathon together. We both have church callings that we love and keep us involved with our community. Chris continues to buy and sell real estate here in St. George. He runs or bikes nearly everyday. And he finally bought himself a jacuzzi - the kids love it! He is looking forward to his annual Guy's Trip to a car auction in just a few weeks. Chris's favorite part of Christmas was hiking to an icy Bridal Veil Falls with Oliver during the break.
